Improved ore-separator and amalgamator



H. PIET'SCH.

Ore Amalgamator.

No. 42,596. Patented May 3, 1864..

WZfnesses: I t 2 lwv snior N. F'EYERS. Phuminhogmphan Washin lm I104 ing is a full. clear, and exact description of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN PIETSOH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED ORE-SEPARATOR AND AMALGAMATOR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,596, dated May 3, 1834.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN PIETSCH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ore-Separator and Ido hereby declare that the followthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of my invention. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same, the lines w 00, Fig. l, indicating the plane of section. V

Similar letters of reference in both views indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the employment or use of a series of pans, each provided with a toothed top and plain bottom, revolving in opposite directions, in combination with a zigzag channel, forming the communication between the succeeding pans in such a manner that the ore and water while passing through the several pans is thoroughly agitated and gradually freed from its heavy particles, which precipitate upon the bottoms of the different pans. v

The invention consists, f urther, in the appli- GttlOIl of two pans containing mercury, and communicating with each other through a central channel, in combination with suitable rotary agitators, causing the ore to enter the mercury-pans and to be distributed and spread within the same in such a manner that all the heavy parts of the ore will be retained and not a particle of the precious metal contained therein will be allowed to escape.

To-enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a cylindrical tank, made of sheet metal or other suitable material, and provided with two or more brackets, a which support the columns I), the upper ends of which form the bearings for the driving-shaft B. This shaft bears two bevel-wheels, O D, of different size, one to gear in the bevelwheel E, and the other in the bevel-wheel F, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The wheel E is secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft G, which is stepped on a pivot, c, rising from the bottom of the tank A, and the upper half of said shaft is turned down and fitted into the hol low shaft H, which has its bearings in the bridge-beam I, connecting the columns I), and to the upper end of which the wheel F is firmly keyed. The bevel-wheels 0 D, which mesh into the wheels E F and impart motion to the same and to the shafts G H, are on opposite sides of said wheels and shafts, so that they produce a motion in opposite directions. The hollow shaft H carries a series of pans, d e f 'g, which are secured to the same by means of set-screws h, and the shaft G carries an inclined or conical disk, '5, from which rise three or more standards, j, which support the pans gj e d, and the inclined or concave cover 61*, over which the ore is introduced in the first pan, d.

By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be noticed that the bottom of the pan d forms the cover of the pan d, the bottom of the pan (1 the cover of the pan 0, and so forth, and it will be readily understood from the foregoing explanation that the bottom of each pan revolves in a direction opposite to its top.

The several pans are so formed that the ore and water have to pass through a zigzag channel, la, rising alternately over the rim at the outer circumference of the pans d efg, and then over the rims of the inner circumference of the pans d c f g.

The cover 61* and the bottoms of the several pans are provided at their lower surfaces with spikes or agitators k, which, together with the motion of the tops and bottoms of the several pans, serve to stir up the ore and to cause the same to flow over the rim either at the outer or at the inner circumference of each pan. The heaviest parts of the ore precipitate at the bottoms of the several pans and the lighter particles are forced through the zigzag channel over the several rims of the successive pans and finally through the central passage, l, down over the conical disk z, from the circumference of which it drops to the bottom of the tank A. The central portion of this bottom is concave and provided with a circular rim, thus forming a cup, m, which is partially filled with mercury, and an agitator, J, serves to keep in motionthe mercury and the ore within and out of the mercury-cup m. This agitator is secured to the shaft G, and that portion of the same which works within the mercury-cup consists of two or more bars, a, which move-partially below and partially above the surface of the mercury in the cup. By the bar or bars moving below the surface of the mercury a wake is created which sucks in the ore and causes it to come in more intimate contact with the mercury and by the bar or bars sweeping over the surface of the mercury the ore floating thereon is agitated. Those parts of the agitator J sweeping on the outside of the cup m consist of teeth 0, and, to promote the agitation still further, bars p are secured on the upper part of the agitators. The ore and water accumulate in the tank A and they finally rise through the central channel, q, into the stationary pan K,

which is suspended by means of hooks r from be rs, t, sweeping partially above and partially bslow the surface ot' the mercury, and"by means of this agitator the smallest particles ot'metal contained in the ore are amalgamated and the waste is finally discharged through the discharge pipe or spout M. That poition of the ore which settles down in the several pans is removed at certain intervals by raising them up, and a tap or faucet, N, at

the bottom of the tank A serves todraw out the mercury from the cup 122.

It is obvious that the number of revolving pans in my apparatus may be increased at pleasure, and I do not wish to confine myself to the precise number and form shown in the drawing.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. The employment or use of a series of pans, d e f g, revolving on a shaft, G, in combination with a similar series of pans, d e f g, revolving on a shaft, H, in a direction opposite to the first pans and arranged in such relation to the same that the bottoms of one series form the covers of the other series, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The zigzag channel is, formed by the rims of the pans d efg d ejg rising alternately on the inner and outer peripheries, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the stationary mercury-cups m s, agitators J L, tank A, and rotary pans d efg d e f g, all constructed and operating in the manner and ft r the purpose substantially as set forth.

HERMAN PIETSGH.

Witnesses:

THEO. TUSCH. HENRY MORRIS. 

